With the onset of the rainy season, the risk of malaria is increasing in many parts of Southern Africa. During the Christmas holidays many people travel to visit family and friends. Often this involves travelling to areas where malaria is a problem. Travellers and tourists must protect themselves against malaria during the Christmas period. 

In the SADC region malaria kills over 200,000 people every year.

	Malaria is a major public health problem and the second leading cause of illness and death in the SADC region.
	Malaria can be prevented. People should sleep under treated mosquito nets, apply skin repellents in the evening and before sleep, wear long-sleeved clothing at dusk, and allow sprayers to spray their homes.
	Malaria can be cured. Treatment should be sought immediately if a person suspects they have malaria. Symptoms can include fever, headache, shivering, joint pains, vomiting and general malaise or body weakness.
	If treatment is not sought immediately, severe malaria can develop. Symptoms of severe malaria include being unable to sit-up, confusion and delirium, bleeding gums, convulsions and coma.
	Those at the greatest risk of having malaria due to their lack of immunity to the disease are:

	Under-five year olds
	Pregnant women
	Chronically ill people
	All people normally living in malaria-free areas
	All people normally living in areas where there is little malaria

Over Christmas, people will be going from malaria-free to malarious areas

	The intensity of malaria transmission varies within countries in Southern Africa. In Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe malaria transmission does not occur in all districts. It is predominantly found in some rural areas and also some tourist areas such as the Zambezi valley, the Okavango delta, and Kruger National Park.
	During the Christmas holidays there is a large amount of internal travel and tourism within southern Africa. Many travellers from malaria-free areas, particularly large cities, will be visiting areas where malaria is a problem.
	During December and January malaria transmission is increasing. Travellers and tourists should protect themselves against malaria.

How travellers can protect themselves against malaria

	Travellers and tourists should ask their health worker whether malaria transmission occurs in the place they are visiting. If it does they should:
	Take a mosquito net treated with insecticide for themselves and take extra treated nets to give to their relatives and friends they are visiting.
	Take skin repellents to prevent mosquito bites and use them twice in the evening before dark and before they go to bed.
	Take malaria prophylaxis (antimalarial tablets) to prevent malaria - travellers should ask their health worker or pharmacist about the best drugs to take based on the national malaria drug policy. The drugs should be taken for one week before travelling, during travel and four weeks after returning home.
	If the traveller suffers symptoms and signs of malaria such as fever, headache, shivering, joint pains, vomiting and malaise during travel or after returning home, they should see their health worker immediately and ensure to tell them about their travel to a malarious area.

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